Your angel is instantly popular with your children: Ebonsong especially. They can play with Ophinus for hours, and Ophinus never tires of looking after your children.

The day approaches when you must join the expedition to the Drowned Lands.

The full flotilla is over 50 ships, and the expedition comprises over 10,000 people: sailors, soldiers, mages, researchers, nobles and their retinues. Each of the 4 churches is sending representation and the fleet and expedition is commanded by Duke Kostvin – one of the 5 Dukes of the Kingdom.

You are joining part of the fleet in Alstersport – the full flotilla is meeting up further out to see before beginning its journey.

You turn to see a group of the Knights of Konig riding towards you, all the other people have made way for them, but you didn’t hear them over the normal sounds of swearing sailors, fishwives selling their wares and general clamour of the docks.

The lead knight, no, Paladin by his armour and holy symbols rides up to you and looks down at you with a sneer, which turns into a look of recognition.

“Well well” he says “If it isn’t the Whore Knight, did they finally kick you out, Champion of Sluts?”

His words bring back all the times he used to call you that back in training, Its Gustas Garrond, the man who made your time in the training grounds of Konig far less pleasant than they had to be.

He looks over your companions, clearly unimpressed, and then his gaze focuses on Ebonsong, currently in her half-dragon form.

>>34773285>You should really try to be more creative in your insults.How much of what we did is classified? I'd have thought that killing three demon-lords and saving a Lost Realm would be big news, even if we cannot say more about how we got there other than "Magic accident with ancient artifact".

“Hello Gustas” you say wearily “I have a name you know, and a title, if you’re going to insult me, you could at least do me the courtesy of using it.”

Gustas jumps down from his huge warhorse and walks over to you, at 6ft 6inch he doesn’t quite loom over you like he used to. Still, he’s probably about 3 times your weight, and all muscle.

“I heard Baroness” he says “So nice to be able to congratulate you Baroness, services undisclosed to the kingdom, Baroness, been nursing a royal bastard have you Baroness?”

You ignore that “Allow me to introduce” you say, without a hint of a smile, though Ebonsong can feel your emotions, and is grinning like a maniac “Ophillian, Priestess of Konig.”

“I do believe” you say “That Konigs paladins are still organised on military lines and that Priests outrank you, yes?”

Whilst Gustas is still struggling with the concept of you arguing back, Ophilian steps forward.

“IS THAT RUST I SEE ON YOUR BREASTPLATE MAGGOT?” She screams in a parade voice that would make even the most psychotic drill instructor proud “IS IT JUST TODAY YOU DECIDED TO BE A DISGRACE TO MY BELOVED ORDER OF KONIG OR HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A TUMESCENT SHITSTAIN? DON’T LOOK AT HER STAND AT ATTENTION DICKLESS!”

Gustas was glaring at you but now he snaps to attention, for all his faults, he never disobeyed an order.

“AM I GIVEN TO UNDERTANS THAT YOU ARE IN COMMAND OF THIS SHOWER OF SHIT?” Asks Ophilian

“Sir Yes sir!” Says Gustas

“SO IT’S YOUR FAULT THEY LOOK LIKE A PACK OF DRUNKARDS AND WASTRELS IS IT?!”

“I take full responsibility Sir!” barks Gustas

“GET YOURSELVES BACK TO THE BARRACKS AND POLISH EVERY BIT OF KIT YOU’VE GOT YOU SONS OF ORCS!” Ophilian offers a polite suggestion

Gustas looks conflicted “I have orders to report to the expedition flotilla.” He says

>>34773805“OH IS THAT RIGHT? THEY MAY I JUST SO KINDLY ASK WHAT IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD KONIG AND ALL HIS ANGELS YOU ARE DOING STANDING AROUND CHATTING ON THE DOCKS? DON’T LET MY DULCET TONES FOOL YOU, I AM GIVING YOU ALL ORDERS LADIES! MOVE IT! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!GET ON THEM DAMN SHIPS NOW MAGGOTS!” Ophilian directs them to move along.

As the Paladins move on, Ophilian leans in to you “Well that was fun” she says “But he was wearing a commanders heraldry, once we’re on the expedition he’ll technically hold equal rank to me.”

“Thanks” you say, your ears still ringing.

Eventually you find your assigned ship and settle in for the voyage, it’s going to be 2 months getting to the Drowned Lands, what do you do with your time?

Pick 4

>Spend time with Ophilian>Spend time with Isla>Spend time with Matthias>Spend time with Jianxi>Spend time with Ebonsong>Spend time with Lunia>Talk to the soldiers>Talk to the commanders>Talk to the mages>Other

>>34773860>>Reveal new powers to allies (All of them)Err, I don't think we need to be that open with all the soldiers and stuff. Might as well hold a press conference, at that point. Or are they excluded from "allies" and "companions"?

There’s a lot happening on the trip to the Drowned Lands, the Flotilla hugs the coast for much of the distance, before heading out to see.

Fortunately Gustas is on a different ship to you.

You spend your time with your companions, you’ve no interest in the politics of the expedition, and your new abilities make you wary of mages – you’re not sure what they’ll be able to tell of you.

You spend a lot of time playing with Ebonsong: both in her half-dragon and full dragon form: she loves water and could fly and swim for hours.

It is perhaps fortunate that you’re on an excursion far away from the fleet when she shows you a new trick she has.

“If I wish really, really hard” she tells you “I can make an Ophinus.”

“Can you?” you ask indulgently, Ophinus is currently on your back, holding onto your hair as you and Ebonsong soar above the waves.

“Yes I can!” insist Ebby “Watch” gliding along she screws up her eyes real tight and in front of her appears a tiny black dragon with white feathered wings, perhaps 8 inches long, it flies along for a few moments, and then fades into nothing.

“See” says Ebonsong “Told you I could!”

“Creator” says Ophinus “That was...”

“Yes I know” you say, you could feel that was a true angel, though a very short-lived one, like your own first attempts.

>Say nothing about this to Ebby>Tell her not to do that>Tell her to keep this ability hidden>Tell her to practise>Other

>>34774318>Say nothing about this to Ebby>Tell her to keep this ability hidden>Tell her to practise>We are amazed and very proud of her, but its important she keeps this a secret between us for now. She should trai it though, at best under our supervision.

“This is a secret power” you say “Only friends can know of this, no one else, understand.”

“Yes sister” she says, rolling her eyes at you like you just said something stupid. You wonder how long you’ve got until she’s a teenager.

Once you get back to the ship you decide that now is a good time to talk to Velya.

As soon as you start praying, you hear her voice in your head, as if waiting for you.

“My champion” she says and then starts again “No, that’s not quite right now, Sireyi” she says “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

“How long have you known?” you ask, you’re still a little put out over all the secrecy.

“Since you were born” says Velya “You carried the spark within you as a babe.”

“How?” you say

“Your mother” she explains “Was on another plane on a mission for me, when she witnessed one god killing another and captured a piece of the dying gods divine essence. She and I were trying to decide what to do with it, when she became pregnant with you. Once you were born, she could no longer sense its power within her, it was within you.”

“But I’m not a god” you say “I’m just a half-angel.”

“Not yet a god” says Velya “But just a half-angel? Hardly – you’ve mastered powers in a few years that take others decades, did you really not wonder why?”

“Not really” you admit.

“The divine spark” says Velya “has always been with you, oh I damped it down to protect you, but it has fuelled your powers your entire life.”

“And Salvastis” you say “Is that why he took my mother?”

“Yes” says Velya “He believes that she still holds it, and is trying to take it from her.”

>>34774593>He believes that she still holds it, and is trying to take it from her.”Let's talk about that other Demon who, after we touched the pillar, said that he would rub into Salvastis' face that he took the wrong one.

>>34774593>I can actually make angels now. Is there a reason to not make many angels?>Does my status as your servant change? Does my standing with the other deities/angels change? Will I become...a deity, too?

Do you know what happened to the Elemental Cores after the fight? And the Pillar of Skulls? The demon who was backing the beastmen mentioned that I brought a gift for him when I last entered his realm. Is he referencing the cores?

“You were a child before” says Velya “So I gave you the answers, now you’re an adult, and you make your own answers. Stay mortal if you wish, with a few unique abilities, raise a host of angels of your own, climb to the heavens and take you place at my side: I shall welcome you, but above all – you choose.”

“The Demon Urgorg” you say “He said Salvastis took the wrong Angel, how did he know?.”

“On their own plane” explains Velya “Demons have more powers – including stronger senses.”

“You mother is a very powerful angel” explains Velya “Strong enough to hide such a thing even in a demons own domain.”

“So... she doesn't want me going there to save her, because of the threat of my spark being taken? And if he knows I carry it, he would have no reason to keep her alive..." you say

“Correct” says Velya “First you must learn to both increase your power, and to hide it.”

“How do I increase my power?” you ask

“You know how” she replies.

You pause “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that” you say.

“You always were one of the most adorable of my servants” says Velya, you feel like something pinched your cheek “If you don’t want to raise your powers that way, find mortal companions you are willing to raise to angels.”

“Ebonsong also has these powers” you say, avoiding that topic “What should I do?”

“As long as she doesn’t show them to others” says Velya “It shouldn’t be a problem, as your familiar it’s no surprise she has your powers: Perhaps you should try making a draconic angel.”

“How do I hide it?” you ask Velya, she explains in terms that only someone with such power can understand.

[Hide Deific Power: Costs 5 Deific Power, hides the presence of Deific Power for a week; can only be detected by others with Deific Power]

With no more questions, you end your communion with Velya.

You also spend a great deal of time with Ophillian, she’s always willing to talk to you, and although she’s a follower of Konig, she’s unlike any other.

You’re standing at the rails one day, just looking out at the ocean when she says “Sireyi, there’s supposed to be a lot of undead in the Drowned Lands.”

“So they say” you agree

“Are you going to try and save them all?” she asks

Oh, this topic again, redemption vs smite first and don’t bother with questions

“Not all of them” you say “There’s nothing I can do for mindless undead”

“And those who can think?” she asks “Can you fight something like that, or will you try to convert them?”

>Yes>Not if they attack me I won’t>I’ve killed in battle, Ophilian>These are not the undead that killed your family>Damned Konig-worshipper the world isn’t black and white>Leave (end conversation)>Other

>>34775416>I can't answer that kind of question>Without any information on the circumstances under which they're encountered, I can't say for sure whether or not I'd try to save them>I'd like to save those that I can, but I'm not going to put your life or the lives of any of my allies in undue danger because of it

“I’ve killed in battle Ophillian” you say, “I’ve burned men to cinders, I’ve cut them down with my blade and watched the light go out of their eyes, I’ve never taken joy in it, or seen the glory in it.”

“So if you’re not afraid of killing” she asks “Why not destroy something that’s not even alive?”

“If it thinks” you say “Then it’s as good as alive.”

“But they’re evil” she points out.

"No one is beyond redemption.” You say “No soul is stained so black with sin that the light of virtue cannot shine through, should they truly wish it."

“Fine words” she says “but not practical.”

“Give over” you say “These are not the undead that killed your family.”

She’s silent for several minutes, then turns to you “you don’t think I know that?” she says “You don’t think I can remember everything about the abominations that killed my family, this isn’t about that, damn you Velyan, must you pick at every wound to try and heal it!”

“Ok fine” you say “But just the general advice, let’s avoid the sticky specifics” damn Halflings act like they invented sex toys sometimes.

“Spoilsport” says Poppy, sticking her tongue out at you before continuing “You’re too timid” she says “The two girls you’ve got would love for you to chase ‘em around the bedroom a few times. And that Isla wouldn’t say no either I’d wager.”

“That’s not how I am Poppy” you say “For me it’s about more than that.”

“And who said I was talking about sex” she ripostes “Just kiss ‘em senseless. What I mean is, sometimes you’ve gotta go get ‘em, you can’t just wait for ‘em to fall into your arms.”

“I prefer a slower courtship than you” you point out “I want to be sure that they want me, not just force them to do what I want.”

“Yeah?” says Poppy “Well I got news for you Miss Gorgeous Half-Angel: Get over yourself.”

“You” she clarifies “might look like you just fell from heaven, but you’re not so pretty that girls completely lose their wits around you.”

“Speaking from experience?” you ask, determined not to let Poppy get all the jabs in “Because I have to say, you’re not up to my usual level.”

“Is that a height joke?” asks Poppy in mock-indignation

“Go over your head did it?” you ask, leaping backwards as Poppy launches herself at you, she perches on the rail as you circle around her, gliding on the ocean winds.

“But seriously” she says “You really ought to-” and then she leaps for you in mid-sentence like some demented monkey. The two of you spend hours chasing each other over the ship.

You make sure to spend time with Isla, to see how much she’s changed. The crew and passengers are not exactly fond of part-demons, so Isla spends a lot of time in her cabin. She doesn’t seem too bothered she has plenty of books and has her own notes to write up from the research you two did together.

Isla is still herself, but she seems more confident, more willing to put herself and her own ideas forward now.

She no longer seems to swing between the old Isla, and acting like Ellahi, instead the two extremes have blended into a new Isla, one who is not so content to be passive, in conversations, or other matters....

The two of you are in her cabin one afternoon discussing the more esoteric points of research regarding demonic energies you discovered during your recent blitz through the libraries of the mages guild.

You’re looking over the annotated diagram she’s drawn of the magic circle you used, trying to remember if it matches up to the real thing. It’s got a lot of fine detail and you’re examining it carefully, sat on the only chair in the cabin with Isla standing next to you.

“Sireyi” she says

“Hmm?” you say, looking up from the diagram and turning to face her, only to feel her lips on yours and one of her hands cupping the back of your neck.

>Pull back>Go with it>This isn’t you Isla>Why?>Other

To clarify going with it does not trigger a sex scene, just some kissing.

You’re focused completely on Isla, on loving her, knowing that she’s been wanting you for so long, even though you only recently admitted your attraction to her.

She’s no longer the timid little girl who hero worships you; she’s a young woman who knows what she wants and intends to get it.

You’re lost in sensation, her soft skin, the taste of her lips, the feminine scent of her, she’s so delicate in your arms.

When her leg wraps around yours and trips you onto the bed you’re caught by surprise. As she straddles you, looking down on you with hunger in her eyes you decide to turn the tables on her and you take a gentle but firm grip on her and reserve your positions, until you’re the one pinning her to the bed.

She responds eagerly to you taking charge, arching her body to meet yours, rubbing against you and unbuttoning your breeches and trying to strip them off you.

It’s that last action that brings you to your senses somewhat.

“Wait, wait” you say, lifting your body up until you can look her in the face.

“What?” she says, looking at you through heavy-lidded eyes “too soon.”

“Yeah” you agree “I’m not ready for...”

She looks disappointed briefly and then runs her hands up and down your sides “Fine, fine” she says “The clothes stay on for now, no reason we can’t have fun though?”

“I suppose” you agree as she tangles her hands in your hair and pulls your face down to meet hers again.

Throughout your voyage your have heard rumblings of factions and politics, divisions within your expedition. You’ve ignored it and focused upon your companions.

Eventually, after two long months, you catch sight of the Drowned Lands

In the distance they’re not much to look at: tall mountains, no different from any others; as you get closer you see a chain of islands.

As your ship approaches one of these islands you see sailors exclaiming in surprise and looking down into the water. You look over the railing: below you, underneath the water you can see a whole town: buildings, streets, a town square, all eerily abandoned.

As you watch a humanoid figure darts out of a doorway and back in again. No, that must just be your imagination, probably a fish of some kind.

Eventually your ship anchors just off the beach and the boats are lowered, with no need of such things you and Ebby fly over to the sand, landing on the beach; you have arrived in Drowned Lands.

Thread End.

Thank you all for playing, I hoped you enjoyed it, and damn you Mathrian for making me fall out of my chair laughing.

I’ll stick around for a short time to answer any questions people have, if I miss your quest then I’ll check the archives in the morning and post next thread.

As far as Paladin powers go, the only one which is almost equal to it is Sanctuary 3.

I'd like it if the relationships worked out that way, but given that by year's end it's likely that Isla will be at L1 and Jal/Sofia will be at L2, it might not, and I'm not going to vote to string them along.

>>34777254I've memorized every word, mainly because I've been here for every single XP sheet.

The 'screw waiting' option wasn't a sex scene, and it would've been somewhat OoC to leap into it like that; I'd imagined it as Jal overlewding Sireyi and Sofia having to step in before things went too far.

>>34777309>and I'm not going to vote to string them along.I understand that, and I feel similar.Maybe marrying Jal/Sofia first, and then Isla might be better anyway, since they don't want to marry her afterall.We'll see how it plays out.